While the number of Ukrainians using internet keeps growing, the share of book readers continues to fall. More than a half of Ukrainians do not read books at all, according to report released by Research & Branding Group on April 3.
Only 48.7 percent of those surveyed said they read books. Moreover, 30
percent of readers say they do it only several times a month. Historical and
detective stories are preferred over scientific and classical literature,
according to the survey.
Honesty is a major reason behind the dearth of bookworms, believes
famous Ukrainian writer Dmytro Kapranov.
“In the past not reading books was regarded as bad form and everybody
would say they read books. Now people no longer have that desire to look better
than they are,” Kapranov explains.
International comparisons show mixed results.
A study released by the Pew Research Center in the United States in 2012
found that 75 percent of Americans aged 16 or older read at least one book last
year. But neighboring Poland saw lower readership than Ukraine: a joint survey
by the national library and survey company TNS Polska found that a shocking 61
percent of Poles did not read a single book in 2012.
Kapranov ties the situation in Ukraine to a lack of book stores.
“People in villages, for example, really have no choice. You wouldn’t
find a single book store in the majority of regional centers,” he says.
As a result, he claims, the nation’s creativity and imagination is
suffering.
“You have to make a film in your head when you are reading. Not
everybody could do that. Those 50 percent who read in Ukraine are the elite and
the elite is always smaller in numbers,” he says.
Kyiv Post staff writer
Anastasia Forina can be reached at [email protected]
